One Hundred and Six.

I nodded at her childlike curiosity. "Why are you so surprised?"

I asked back, "Doesn't our sect name start with the word 'Demonic'? Demonic Roseflame Phoenix sect?"

She nodded, but I could see that the meaning was different. I waited for her to explain.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly, as if solving her own thoughts.

"The word Demonic in our sect name doesn't mean… actual demons," she said. "It refers to our cultivation path—how we draw strength from desires, from passion, from Yang and blood."

I frowned. "So you're telling me all this time, you thought Demonic Cultivators were just edgy guys with bad tempers?"

She gave me a look. "I mean… yeah?"

I stared at her. She stared back.

I sighed. "I fought an actual demon."

She gulped. "And survived?"

"Do I look dead?"

She smacked my arm. "Don't joke! That's serious!"

"Hey, you're the one who didn't believe demons were real," I pointed out.